About
A rosette-forming semi-evergreen which can be grown as a biennial or short-lived perennial with wrinkled, dark green leaves. Purple-red buds open to white flowers flushed with purple and red in late spring to early summer.
About the genus
Verbascum can be annuals, biennials, perennials or subshrubs mostly with hairy leaves and 5-petalled, saucer-shaped flowers
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Gravel garden, Cottage and informal garden, Mediterranean climate plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow in full sun in light, non-acidic, well-drained soil: will tolerate shallow chalky soils, dry soils, and poor soils, but will need staking in richer soils, and will not tolerate wet soils
PruningDeadhead the flowering stem
PropagationPropagate by root cuttings in late winter; because it is rather short-lived, propagate new plants regularly
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to figwort weevil and by mullein moth but generally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews